Main criteria for explosion-fire hazards of biofuel production

Abstract

Problem statement. A significant advantage of bioethanol production is the use of renewable energy sources. Since July 2021, gasoline produced and sold in Ukraine should consist of 5 % bioethanol. In the production of biofuels in Europe, most deaths occur due to underestimation of the possibility of emergency situations. Fire and explosion safety of enterprises is one of the most important areas in protecting people and the environment from serious consequences. To carry out preventive measures for fire and explosion safety, it is necessary to determine the main criteria for the explosion and fire hazard of bioethanol production at each enterprise.Purpose. To determine excess explosion pressure for bioethanol vapor and zone size, limiting the range of concentrations exceeding the lower concentration limit of flame propagation. Conclusions. Based on the calculation results, the values of the criteria for explosive and fire hazard for bioethanol, obtained at modernized sugar factories, are established. The size of the zone (Rnkmp), which limits the range of concentrations exceeding the lower concentration limit of flame propagation (Snkmp), is 7,8 m.The explosion overpressure for ethanol vapor is 14,37 kPa. In order to clearly display the fire hazard and conduct fire prevention in the production of bioethanol, it is necessary to develop fire-technical maps. The premises for bioethanol production should be provided with natural and mechanical emergency ventilation, mechanized and automated as much as possible, equipped with automatic fire extinguishing means and automatic fire alarms.